'Irresponsible dog walkers add to the demise of the Critically Endangered African Penguin!'
That's the headline of an urgent appeal by the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), requesting that those who walk their dogs near colonies of seabirds take more care to ensure the safety of these precious creatures.
Over the past few years, a number of incidents have been documented of off-leash dogs attacking penguins and other seabirds, resulting in serious injury, trauma and sometimes death.
The worst incident of the lot took place in 2022 in Simon's Town, where two dogs from nearby homes attacked and killed 19 African Penguins. It was a truly devastating time for conservation efforts.
In a recent statement released by SANCCOB, the importance of controlling your dogs around seabirds was once again driven home, with the non-profit organisation calling any such attacks an "owner problem", not a “dog problem”.
"One of the main challenges with mainland seabird colonies is the additional threats posed by humans and land-based predators, including domestic dogs. In past years, African Penguins have been attacked by unleashed dogs resulting in severe trauma and even death. This is not a 'dog problem', it is an owner problem who disregards by-laws and dog-owner responsibility," SANCCOB insists.
"The African Penguin’s rapidly declining population has been well-documented, owing to the numerous and complex threats facing the iconic species. We are in a race against time to conserve the species and prevent their impending extinction; stakeholders are working tirelessly to mitigate threats to African Penguins, but we need the public to play their part, too.
"We urge dog-owners to be responsible when walking their best fur-friends near seabird colonies."
What to do if you see an injured seabird
If you come across an injured seabird, please contact SANCCOB on 021 557 6155 during working hours and on 078 638 3731 after hours and on weekends. SANCCOB is a 24-hour Seabird Rescue Centre.
SANCCOB advises that you always approach an injured seabird with caution, as species such as gannets and penguins have sharp beaks which could cause you harm.
'Have with you a towel or blanket and wear protection over your hands and eyes. Gently throw the towel or blanket over the bird to catch it, ensuring that the bird is able to breathe. Place the bird in a large box if you have one, after first ensuring that there are holes for air. Keep the bird in a warm quiet place until help arrives,' SANCCOB explains.
How to support SANCCOB
There are various ways you can help SANCCOB continue their all-important work. For the full list of how you can get involved - which includes donating funds, volunteering and even adopting a penguin, click here.
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